Real beauty starts deep inside. It is about who you are, how you feel, what you project to the world. It’s about mind, beauty and soul.

Too often, women’s self–esteem revolves around external influences … magazines, TV, movies, what others think and the images portrayed that do not reflect real women, or attainable beauty.

Unfortunately, this is a universal issue. Women with dark hair want light hair. Women with light skin want a tan. Women with deep skin color want skin lightening creams, women who are thin want more curves, women who are voluptuous want to look like skinny supermodels and so on…forever. And what about loving and embracing who we are, inside and out? Why can’t we realize that the way we feel inside is what truly radiates out to the world? And that any beauty regimen, enhancement or product cannot compensate if we don’t feel good about who we are.

Typical images reflect not only an unrealistic, single body type (usually extra thin) but hair, eyes and skin color that represent a tiny segment of the population. When this imagery appears over and over again in ads, movies and on TV, it programs young girls to think that they do not measure up to what is the ’norm’ or ‘ the ideal’. Although it seems that this may not be a big deal, it actually creates an unattainable standard that becomes a benchmark for women to constantly strive for and feel like they are falling short.

Looking at the U.S., for example what the media portrays does not at all reflect the reality of the country. The average American woman wears a size 11–14. In contrast, the average fashion model wears a size 2 or 4. 30% of the population is non-Caucasian while the majority of the images still portray white skin, light eyes, straight hair. Images in media, fashion and beauty need to start showing reality. Real women, real beauty, real bodies.

We need to concentrate on people as a whole. Looking at ourselves not only as our body but also as our mind and soul. More attention needs to be focused on what truly makes us joyful. For example, finding and living our passion instead of working jobs that do not inspire us. Having loving and caring relationships instead of putting that part of our lives on hold. Taking care of our health instead of putting that last. Finding something greater than ourselves to have faith in instead of thinking that we are the center of the universe. Connecting with others, truly being global citizens, giving back to the world and realizing that change starts with us are all vital to seeing ourselves as fulfilled…mind, body and soul.

So it’s simple….love who you are, do what you love and always be yourself. Now that’s real beauty!